CLARY WOULD RATHER BE ON FIELD SUNDAY

That was the call two Sunday afternoons ago, one easier to talk than walk when pain intensifies throughout a game. He felt the aftermath that evening and upon awakening the next morning in bed.

“It was hard to sleep,” Clary said. “It was hard to move. It was hard to get dressed. It was hard to get undressed.”

More difficult for Clary is to stay sidelined.

The right guard returned to Chargers practice Thursday as a limited participant. The eighth-year veteran has earned a reputation for toughness, the latest example Sept. 22 when he gutted through a first-quarter injury in Nashville.

His status for Sunday’s game against the Raiders is yet to be determined. San Diego will release its official injury report today.

Clary has “every intent” to play, he said, but “body and mind are separate entities. ... Realistically, there was no chance last week. This week, it’s more realistic. We’ll see.”

The injury is listed as the clavicle, and it was severe enough to keep him off the field all of last week.

Its nature is such that multiple people have shaken their heads discussing how he pushed through the injury, understood to involve some tearing. Philip Rivers said Clary going four quarters against the Titans was “remarkable, but it wasn’t surprising” given the player. Offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt called it “unbelievable.”

“To have that type of mentality in that group, it sets the standard for the young guys,” Whisenhunt said. “They don’t have a choice but to adopt that.”

Clary wore an earpiece on the sideline Sunday, so he was able to follow the plays during the Chargers’ game against the Cowboys. He spoke with younger players. He gave tips when he could.

None of that could replicate being in the game himself.

That is why the 29-year-old does what he does, continuing to play if possible, accepting medical methods to mask the pain when available. Such tricks aren’t at hand for this injury, he said, but should the pain prove manageable, the abuse his body takes is worthwhile.

“It’s impossible to explain how awesome Sundays are,” Clary said. “It’s magical. It’s like a kid going to Disneyland for the first time, and we get to do it every Sunday. Every Sunday we get to go into a new stadium like, ‘Oh man. This is incredible.’

“I think 20 years from now, 40 years from now, I’ll look back, and I don’t think I’ll regret anything.”

Not Wright now?

The Chargers have gone two games without Shareece Wright.

A third could be next.

The starting cornerback was a limited participant in practice Thursday for a second straight day. He missed the past couple of weeks with a hamstring injury.

Despite the practice return, it appears unlikely Wright will return to the lineup Sunday against the Raiders. He is on better pace to play Oct. 14 against the Colts.

“You just have to be careful in what you do,” coach Mike McCoy said. “You want to make sure he can go out there, play at 100 percent, and fly around and make plays when they are (in) there.”

Johnny Patrick rested a chest injury Wednesday but was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. He likely would start Sunday if Wright is sidelined.

Nuts ’n’ Bolts

Left tackle King Dunlap (concussion), right guard Chad Rinehart (toe) and top guard-center reserve Rich Ohrnberger (groin) missed practice Thursday for the second straight day.

• Charlie Whitehurst is simulating Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor in practice. He had a similar job in Week 2, working as mobile Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.